hey Missoula! I fell down a lot on an icy slope last weekend and it hurts to type, so this’ll be brief. You know, totally unlike most of the elaborate and well-thought-out posts on this internet website.

Whatta Monday! Shellshag rolled into town at 9 PM and we all met up at Fred’s, for 45 unforgettable minutes that words can’t quite describe. Then we rolled to the VFW for a swimmingly good time with Hermanas Y Hermanas (more Jawbreaker-y every day!) and Midnight Hotdog, who had a proposal halfway through their set! Congrats to Mikki and Max! Holy crap!

photo party time outside of Fred’s

Shellshag played a rad set with much boogying, and this time I did not fall down. I dig it when bands set up on the floor and the crowd stands around in a circle; makes for a much more fun and intimate experience, and nobody has to get stuck behind a tall person.

Then we all partied in Marty’s freezing garage and some wonderful lady showed up with a Piehole pizza. Shellshag said they plan to come back Lewis and Clark style and float down the river while playing live. Sounds like a plan.

So today I feel fantastic, but totes worth it. <3s to Shellshag and here’s hoping the rest of their crazy-long tour goes without a hitch.

Next week is shaping up to be just radical, kids, especially if you like cool bands and being out ridiculously late on a school night. (I like that first thing much more than that second thing.)

Anyway, there’s Shellshag on Monday night, and we all know what a magical experience that will be. I do believe that Shellshag is planning an excursion to Fred’s when they get into Missoula, so I am saving my dolla bills for that.

I also just found out that rad-ass grungy UK punk band Pale Angels will be the next night. Mikey Erg helped found it, and even though I don’t think he’s on this tour, I am still a fan of basically every project he’s every been involved in and this is no exception. Excellent.

Shellshag is 18-plus. I’m not sure about Pale Angels since this flyer is basically all the info I have:

People were visibly upset at these studded-jacket gymnasts but that didn’t stop it from happening, nor did the club do anything about it. This kind of shit is just to be expected. It’s the bird shit on your windshield. It’s the dog shit on your shoe.

The Billings punk scene that I experienced as a #teen was very much dominated by the kind of douchebags who think that being punk rock is all about discarding any respect or consideration for other people. No, idiots, punk rock is about having no respect or consideration for YOUR body, not others, Sheesh. Chug a 40 why dontcha.

(Kidding. Mostly. By the way, the Golden Rose has a happy hour at 10 AM. I’m told.)

That is the latest hott punk rawk news. Because I am extremely cool and in A Mood, I have been listening to a lot of Airborne Toxic Event lately as well as El Vy, which is the new project from Matt Berninger of The National. It’s like The National but snappier, if that makes any sense, and I am stoked because I have listened to all of my National albums to absolute death.

And no, those are not “punk” bands, but if you have a problem with the bands I like, feel free to start your own website about music and maintain it for three-plus years, then we’ll talk.

Really, please do. Marty needs more people to email with last-minute show announcements.

You’ve probably heard by now about Teenage Bottlerocket’s drummer passing away. Very sad. Here’s the Gofundme that’s pretty close to its $50,000 goal for paying for his medical expenses.

Closer to home, I seem to have a lot of friends going through tough times right now. Here’s a little self-care worksheet that I like to refer to sometimes when I’m bummed. Maybe it’ll be helpful for other peeps.